Jun. 30, 2011

Written by

STEVE NEAVLING

DETROIT FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Mayor Dave Bing backed off his threat to end budget negotiations with the City Council, but his office declined to say why. / June 17 photo by PATRICIA BECK/Detroit Free Press

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A day after Mayor Dave Bing abruptly called off budget negotiations with the Detroit City Council, the mayor announced plans Wednesday to offer another compromise budget this morning that would restore deep cuts to public safety, recreation and bus services.

The last-minute deal calls for returning half of the council's $50 million in reductions to the 2011-12 spending plan, which goes into effect Friday.

After rejecting a compromise Tuesday that would have restored $30 million, council members urged Bing on Wednesday to return with a plan that restores between $10 million and $20 million.

Some council members said they are satisfied with the new trade-off that will be presented today, but it's unclear whether there will be enough votes to pass it.

"No one really gets what they want, but I think this is the best compromise we can make," Councilman Andre Spivey said. "I hope my colleagues highly consider it so we can move on to solving the city's long-term debt."

Without an agreement by today, Bing plans Friday to eliminate hundreds of police and firefighter jobs and Sunday bus service, as well as close the People Mover, rec centers and summer festivals at Hart Plaza, including the Downtown Hoedown and Ribs 'n' Soul festival.

Bing's office declined to say why the mayor changed his mind on negotiating with the council.

Today is the last chance to save Detroit jobs, services

The fate of vital services in Detroit has come down to whatever happens at city hall today.

After a heated month of negotiations, Mayor Dave Bing and the Detroit City Council have one final chance to avoid major cuts Friday to public safety, bus service and recreation.

The budget deadline is today.

For reasons that remain unknown, Bing backed off Wednesday on his threat to end negotiations after saying he distrusted the council. He now plans to offer a compromise this morning that would restore half of the council's $50 million in cuts to the $3.1-billion 2011-12 budget.

Council members, who rejected the mayor's proposal to restore $30 million to the budget by a 7-2 vote Tuesday, are divided over the new deal.

The $5-million difference in the two compromises represents just 0.16% of the budget.

Council President Pro Tem Gary Brown said he won't budge because the city's accumulated deficit of $155 million will continue to rise, increasing the likelihood of the state appointing an emergency manager.

The proposed compromise, he said, "will put an additional $25 million into our deficit, which puts us closer to state intervention and one step closer to having our bond rating drop further. We have to pay down our deficit and stop spending more than we have."

Councilman Andre Spivey, who opposed restoring $30 million, said he plans to support the new deal and predicts enough colleagues will join him to approve the $25-million compromise.

"I think it's a good agreement," Spivey said. "We got it done."

Disappointed that some colleagues withdrew their support for Tuesday's proposed compromise, Councilman James Tate implored the council to approve today's plan.

"It's time to get the deal done. We've been around this block before," Tate said, adding that he fears more residents will leave the city if more vital services are cut. "The last-minute flip-flopping by some must end. The future of the city of Detroit is at stake, and the world is watching."

Detroit firefighters, more than 100 of whom stand to lose jobs, also requested the council approve the compromise.

"Now is not the time to cut public safety budgets," said Dan McNamara, president of the Detroit Fire Fighters Association Local 344. "As we work to rebuild our city, public safety should be our highest priority. If residents and businesses don't feel safe, they will leave. When that happens, Detroit will be faced with even greater financial challenges."

Bing said his proposed compromise would save hundreds of police and firefighting jobs, Sunday bus service, the People Mover, recreation centers, swimming pools and popular gatherings at Hart Plaza.

Bing's proposal would restore $6.3 million of the $8.3 million cut from the Police Department; $3 million of the $4.1 million cut from the Fire Department; $7.4 million of the $7.8 million cut from the Department of Transportation, and $2.2 million of the $3.2 million cut from the Recreation Department.

"Attacking the structural issues of pension and medical costs, not reducing our services, must be our first and most immediate priority," Stanley said in a letter Wednesday to the council.

Hours before Bing indicated Wednesday afternoon that he would reopen renegotiations, council members urged the mayor to come back with a compromise that would restore between $10 million and $20 million.

"The mayor is an NBA superstar," Councilman Kwame Kenyatta said. "You can't leave the stadium in the fourth quarter. The team is still on the court."